Celebrate Whale Watching Season At Port of San Diego’s Big Bay Whale Festival

Monday, 10 January 2011

You can walk through an inflatable whale and view live sea creatures at the upcoming free Port of San Diego Big Bay Whale Days Festival. Admission is free.

The event is in its third year and celebrates the whale-watching season.

The community festival will be held on Saturday, Jan. 22, 2011, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. in front of the Port’s recently opened Port Pavilion on Broadway Pier, 1000 North Harbor Drive. The location is at the foot of Broadway as it intersects North Harbor Drive.

Several businesses have partnered with the Port in the annual celebration by offering discounted fares on whale watching and bay cruises. There are also discounted admissions to waterfront museums and special offers at Embarcadero hotels, restaurants and retail shops, including Seaport Village. The specials are available throughout January.

Besides walking through the whale replica, visitors can get their face painted, work on an art project and enjoy music, including a free “Concert for Whales” by the popular singer and song writer Eve Selis from 1:30 to 2:30 p.m. There also will be opportunities to win free whale-watching trips.

Children 12 years and younger can take a whale cruise for free aboard Hornblower Cruises and Flagship Cruises and Events, with a paid adult ticket. Yacht America, which raced in Amerca’s Cup, also offers whale watching cruises. Kids can also ride free on Old Town Trolley Tours, with a paid adult ticket.

The USS Midway Museum and the Maritime Museum of San Diego have admission specials as well. Money-saving coupons to local restaurants and merchants, including a free appetizer at Anthony’s Fish Grotto and free VIP shopping pass to Seaport Village can be downloaded at Whale of a Deal Coupon.

Participants are encouraged to ride Amtrak California Pacific Surfliner to participate in Big Bay Whale Days. The San Diego Santa Fe Depot is a short walk to the Whale Festival. On Jan. 22, kids ride free on Pacific Surfliner to San Diego to attend the Whale Festival with a paid adult. Some restrictions apply, for reservations visit Amtrak or call 1-800-USA-RAIL.

Additional information is available at Big Bay Whale Days or call 619-725-8879. 

Every year, typically beginning in October, the whales begin a remarkable journey. They leave their feeding grounds in the Bering and Chukchi seas and head for mating and calving lagoons in Baja California. Round trip: between 10,000 and 14,000 miles. The one-way journey takes from two to three months.